Electromagnetic circuit breaker



-M. L. JEFFREY ELECTROMAGNETIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed June 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zmnentor MAX A. JEFFREY attorneys Aug. 15, 1939. M. L. JEFFREY 2,169,477

ELECTROMAGNETIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed June 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zinnento:

: I lg} MAX L JEFFREY (Ittomeg 5 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROMAGNETIC cmom'r BREAKER Application June. 15, 1936, Serial No. 85,193

6 Claims.

(01. zoo-as) This invention relates to improvements in elecoperating timer is provided, which timer is driven tromagnetic recording devices, and more particularly to a device for recording time beyond a predetermined time necessary to the operation of a 5 particular machine. It will, however, be apparent that the device may be readily used for other time or recording operations with little or no change in the mechanism and is not therefore limited to the particular mode of operation de- 10 scribed.

Heretofore recording machines or timers have been provided for various purposes but they have been extremely complicated, delicate in operation and mechanism, and easily thrown out of ad- 15 J'ustment. It was also impractical in prior devices to set the same within very small time tolerances such as seconds, and they were difficult to set. In the present invention, I have provided a device which may be accurately setfor the desired 'number of seconds or minutes and which is extremely rugged in construction, having but a few working parts. The device is also quickly and easily adjusted.

Still other advantages of the, present device,

and the invention itself, together with its operation, will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof which,

together with the accompanying drawings, illustrates the same.

30 In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the device mounted in its housing, the door of the housing having been moved;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the mech- 35 anism removed from the housing;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the adjusting dial removed;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view taken from the opposite side from that of Fig. 2 with certain 40 parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a clutch operating lever;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the clutch operating lever;

45 Fig. 7 is an electrical circuit diagram; and

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of the dial. Throughout the drawings like parts have been designated by like reference characters.

A brief understanding of the operation to be 50 performed by the device of my invention will assist in the understanding of the mechanism itself. As hereinbei'ore stated, the purpose of the mechanism is to indicate or record excess time used to complete an operation or time idle of the 56 machine. To carry out the foregoing, a signal by a constant speed motor preferably of the syn chronous clock type. The timer closes a circuit to operate a signal after a predetermined lapse of time and is adapted to be re-set upon com- 5 pletion of the operation to start timing the succeeding operation.

The mechanism of the timer is first set so that it will operate a signal after a predetermined time interval, the time interval being that ordinarily 10 required to complete a certain operation. The operator then starts his machine; the clock motor being connected so that when the machine starts, the clock starts simultaneously. Two things can next happen in the cycle of operation: (A) the machine can complete the operation before or within the estimated time required for the operation; in this event the completion of the operation actuates 'a circuit breaker which closes a circuit to energize a solenoid connected to the timer to re-set the timer, which immediately starts timing the succeeding operation; (B) failure of the operator to complete the operation in the estimated time; in this instance the timer, at the end of the predetermined time, actuates a switch to close a circuit which operates a signal indicating that (1) the machine is idle, or (2) it is taking longer to complete the operation than was ordinarily contemplated; (C) after the particular operation is completed the machine is again re-set, since the completing of the operation in all events closes the circuit which operates the solenoid to re-set the timer. The signal of occurrence 3" may be a visual signal to show vthat the machine is idle, or it may be recorded upon a moving tape on a machine such as is shown in my Patent No. 1,835,220 of December 8, 1931. In this manner the total idle time may be accumulated.

The mechanism is adapted to be enclosed in a housing I substantially as shown in Fig. 1, which is provided with a door thatmay be locked to prevent tampering with the mechanism by 'unauthorized persons.

The mechanism itself is supported on a base 5 frame or panel 2 held in the housing by screws 3. The frame has an integral timer housing 4 extending forwardly therefrom and which provides protection and support for the timer mechanism about to be described. A synchronous clock motor indicated at 5 is secured to the rear of the frame by screws 6 and has a drive pinion l disposed on the end of a shaft which extends into the timer housing, as best shown in Fig. 3. The drive pinion meshes with the teeth 8 of a clutch disc 9. 5

The clutch disc comprises circular disc 9 having a funnel shaped flange Ill extending from its periphery forming the female member of a cone clutch. The clutch disc is journalled upon a bearing post which comprises a hollow cylindrical body I I provided with a reduced threaded end l2 screw threaded into the frame 2 and secured therein by a nut l3 back of the frame. An enlarged head portion I4 of the post retains the disc thereon and a thrust hearing I 5 is interposed between the back of the disc and the front of the base panel surrounding the bearing post I I.

A cone clutch is provided and adapted for driven engagement with the clutch disc 9 and includes a hub I6 from which flange I'I extends radially and supports adjacent its periphery a cone l8 adapted to telescope within and frictionally engage the funnel flange I 0. The cone clutch is rotatably supported on a throwout pin which includes a cylindrical body l9 slidably journalled in the re-entrant flange 20 of the hollow bearing post I I and having an enlarged head 2| slidably journalled in the cylindrical chamber 22 of the bearing post ll. extends beyond the head of the bearing post II and supports the hub and the hub is retained upon the pin by a thrust plate 24 secured to the end 23 by a taper pin 25. A thrust bearing 26 is journalled on the hub between the thrust plate 24 and the flange IT.

A helical tension spring 21 is disposed in the chamber 22 about the body IQ of the throwout pin with one end bearing against the re-entrant flange 20 and the other end engaging the underside of the head 2|. Tension of the spring urges the cone into engagement with the funnel flange. A flat spiral spring 28 is disposed about the head of the bearing post and has the inner end secured thereto by insertion into a slot 29 in the post or by otherwise securing the same to the post, and the outer end of the spring is secured to the inner side of the cone in such a manner that when wound up the spring tends to revolve the clutch in a direction opposite to the movement of the clutch by the motor, exerting a constant tension counter-clockwise on the cone clutch.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the bottom portion of the timer housing is open as at 30. A trip pin 3 I extends from the periphery of the driven cone clutch flange and is adapted to engage a spring trip lever 32 which comprises a strip of resilient metal bolted to the timer housing at 33 and extending nearly across the opening 30. The trip lever is formed with a hump approximately opposite the center of the opening 30, which as shown in Fig. 3, is sufiiciently abrupt on the side where the trip pin engages it during counter-clockwise movement by the spring to stop rotation of the clutch by the spring without materially displacing the normal position of the lever. The opposite side of the hump is provided with an inclined or cam surface 34 so that when the clutch is rotated by the clock clockwise, the trip pin 3| engages the surface 34 and urges the trip lever away from the timer housing to operate a switch.

A switch 36 is locatedv adjacent the spring and is provided with an operating pin 31 in contact with the end portion of the trip lever and adapted to be operated by the trip lever to control the circuit. The switch mechanism may be of conventional design and need not therefore be shown.

The time of the operation of the switch 36 is controlled by the position of the trip pin at the start of its clockwise movement with the clutch cone toward the cam surface 34. A setting dial A reduced end 23 of the pin 1 40 for effecting the timing adjustment of the device is provided and comprises a circular plate which sets into a channel 4! formed in the edge of the timer housing (Fig. 3); The dial is set to the desired position and fixed in that position by a pair of diametrically opposed clamping screws 42 which are screw threaded in bosses 43 on opposite sides of the timer housing and engages the edges of the dial to hold it securely. The surface of the dial is provided with indicia which may be minutes and seconds, or other suitable time intervals determined by the use to which the device is to be put.

Means for rotating the dial is provided in the form of a centrally disposed knurled control knob 44. A stop pin 45 extends into the housing from the inner surface of the dial and is adapted to contact with a clutch stop pin 45 extending outwardly from the clutch cone. The spring which rotates the clutch counter-clockwise, upon release I of the clutch from the driven member, causes the clutch to be rotated counter-clockwise until the pin 46 contacts with the pin 45, thus limiting the degrees of counter-clockwise movement of the clutch; since this is the point where the clutch starts when re-engaged it fixes the rotational position of the clutch. Additional guide means for the dial is provided and comprises a circumferentially extending groove 41 spaced from the edge of the dial and adapted to ride over a pin 49 carried by a boss 48 on the housing. A stop pin 50 disposed in the groove 47 is adapted to contact with the pin 49 to limit the amount of rotation of the dial and hence prevent injury to the switch mechanism.

A solenoid 5| is mounted on a rearwardly extending platform 52 on the back of the frame 2. A movable armature 53 is provided, adapted to be attracted into the solenoid, by a link 54 to a bellcrank lever 55. The bellcrank lever 55 is mounted on a pin 56 journalled in bosses 51 on the back of the frame, and as best shown in Fig. 5, is provided with an upwardly extending arm 58 and a laterally extending arm 59. Energization of the solenoid rotates the lever about its pivot and causes the arm 59 to engage the head 2| of the throw-out pin 1 9 to move the pin against the pressure of the-spring 21 and to release the clutch.

A manual release for the clutch is also provided and comprises a pin having a head 60 journalled in a cylindrical bore 6| of the housing. A reduced stem 62 extends through the back of the housing. The stem is surrounded by a helical spring 63 which engages the head of one end and the bottom of the bore to urge the pin toward the front of the housing, the pin being retained in position by washer and cotter pin 84 and 65 on the end of the pin in the back of the housing. Movement of the pin inward engages the upwardly extending arm 58 of the bellcrank lever 55 to rotate the same, which causes the throwout pin to release the clutch, as described for operation of the solenoid.

A junction block III is provided on the lower ends of the frame and has terminals II to which the wires may be connected as best shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically a suitable circuit for the operation of the device. AC current is taken into the instrument through the line 8| and operates the clock motor 5 continuously through the leads 82, as long as the current is turned on, for driving the clutch. The switch 36 is interposed in the indicator circuit 83 and and is connected when closed by the trip 3|, lights the dial light 84, or the time that the circuit is closed may be recorded on a tape as previously described. One terminal of the switch 36 connects directly to the AC line and the'other terminal connects directly to the light, while the other terminal of the light connects directly to the AC line. The trip 85 which is operated by the machine upon completion of an operation closes the switch 86, one ter minal of which is connected direct to the AC line, and the other terminal of which connects to the solenoid 5| and thence into the AC line. Actuation of the trip 85 closes the circuit 8! to the solenoid, operating the clutch to return the same to its original setting.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows.

As previously stated, the device is particularly adapted for indicating the failure of the machine to perform an operation within a predetermined time or for recording the time when a machine is not in operation. Of course it will be obvious that the machine could be used for other timing operations.

Assuming that the device is to be attached to a punch press, the time for the performance of an operation of a punch press is first determined. This time may be relatively rapid or it may be relatively slow. If it is assumed that the cycle of operation should take thirty seconds, the dial 40 is rotated to the left until the indicia coincides with the index mark 12 at the top of the housing, the screws 42 having been previously released to permit such rotation. The index mark is carried by a plate 13 secured to the housing 14 by screws. The clutch may be released by applying manual pressure on the pin 60 which rotates the lever 55, throwing out the clutch, causing the spring 28 to urge the clutch toward the left until the pin 46 strikes against the pin 45 and prevents further rotation. When the clutch is manually thrown out the initial setting of the dial and clutch may be controlled throughout substantially 360 or five minutes in time as in the particular device illustrated. The dial having been set at the 30 second mark, the screws 42 are tightened, clamping the dial in position and the device is now ready for operation with a machine which takes 30 seconds for its cycle of operation.

As best shown in Fig. 3, this places the trip 3| approximately 36 spaced from the trip lever 32, or thirty seconds in time therefrom. The operator coming on duty starts the press in operation and the motor 5 starts simultaneously revolving the pinion I which in turn rotates the clutch in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3, starting the trip pin 3| toward the lever 32. If the cycle of operation of the punch press is completed before the trip in 3| reaches the lever 32, a circuit breaker 85 operated by the punch press, upon completion of the operation, closes the circuit to the solenoid, actuating the armature 53 downward as viewed in Fig. 4, which through the link 54 rotates the bellcrank lever 55, the arm 59 of which contacts the head 2| and the pin l9, and throws out the clutch. The releasing of the clutch causes the driven clutch to be rotated counter-clockwise by the spiral spring 28 until the pin 46 strikes the pin 45 on the dial and the cycle of operation is ready to start anew.

Should, however, the punch press operator fail to complete the operation within the predetermined time, the trip pin 3| will engage the cam closes the circuit to a dial light 84, or records the closing on a travelling tape in a suitable device, not shown, but which has been previously mentioned. The circuit is maintained closed by the switch 36 until the operator completes the operation on the punch press, whereat the completion of the operation operates the circuit breaker which again energizes the solenoid, releasing the clutch and re-setting the timer and opening the switch 36.

Should it be desired to indicate the time taken for the operation, it is merely necessary to change the switch 36 to a switch that is closed when the trip pin 3| is not in contact with the lever 32, and which opens through the action 01' the lever 32. Such a change would readily adapt the device for photographic printing where the trip lever 85 would be attached to the printing frame in a well known manner so that when the frame was closed, the paper being applied to the negative, the clutch would be disengaged, setting .the timer in operation for a predetermined time interval, and the switch 36 during the time interval would be closed turning on the light 84 until the predetermined time had elapsed, at which time the light 84 would turn out, preventing overexposure of the print. Obviously two switches could also be provided at 36 operable by the lever 32 and pin 3|, one switch making the circuit and the other switch breaking the circuit simultaneously. The one switch connected to a circuit to indicate the time taken for the operation, and the other switch connected to indicate the overtime, or to run a signal indicating that the desired time measure had elapsed. This being particularly desirable in view of the use in photography above described where the start of the operation turned on the light and at the finish of the lighted period the extra switch at 36 would close a circuit to a signal, indicating that the exposure period is over.

The preferred use of the device is, however, as previously principally described, for indicating and recording overtime or lost time in the operation of the machine.

Having thus described my in'vention I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom but without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a motor driven timer comprising a driving and driven member in clutching engagement with each other, a switch operable by the driven member to close a circuit after a predetermined time interval, electromagnetic means for disengaging the driving and driven members, spring means for returning the driven member to starting position. and manual means to disengage said driving and driven members to permit relative adjustment of the driven member to adjust the time interval of the driven member for operation of the switch.

2. In a device of the class described, a clutch comprising a driving member and a driven member, a clutch throwout means operable to engage and disengage said clutch and supporting said driven member, a synchronous motor for rotating said driven member at a predetermined speed, a trip lever supported by the driven member and a circuit breaker operable by said trip lever to open and close a circuit, a control dial for controlling the amount of revolution of the driven member and spring means to return the driven member to a starting position upon disengagement of said clutch, electro-magnetic means for disengaging said clutch.

3. In a device of the class described, a clutch comprising a driving member and a driven member, a clutch throwout pin operable to engage and disengage said clutch and supporting said driven member, a synchronous motor for rotating said driven member at a predetermined speed, a trip lever supported by the driven member and a circuit breaker operable by said trip lever to open and close a circuitafter a predetermined time interval, a control dial for the'time interval by adjusting the amount of revolution of the driven member and spring means connected to the driven member to return the driven member to a starting position upon disengagement of said clutch, electro-magnetic means for disengaging said clutch and switch.

4. A device of the class described, a housing, a base panel supported within the housing, a synchronous motor supported by said panel, a bearing post carried by the panel, a timer comprising a female clutch member rotatably supported on the bearing'post and adapted to be driven by said motor, a clutch cone supporting pin reciprocably supported in the bearing post, a cone clutch rotatably supported on said pin adapted for engagement with said female member, spring means disposed about said pin and adapted to hold said clutch in engagement with the female member, a switch for opening and closing a circuit, a trip lever carried by the cone clutch adapted to operate said switch upon rotation of the clutch, a second spring means connected to the cone clutch and to the bearing post for rotating the cone clutch in a direction opposite to that driven by the motor upon release of the clutch,'a dial adjustably carried by the housing, a stop pin supported by the dial and extending into the housing, a clutch stop pin carried by the clutch and extending toward the dial and adapted to engage the dial stop pin when the clutch is rotated by said second spring means to limit the amount of rotation of the clutch by said spring means, the amount of rotation of the dial being determined by the adjusted position of the dial, means to disengage ing portion extending through housing and adapted to engage a third arm of said clutch by reciprocating said supporting pin in said bearing post to move the cone clutch from engagement with the female member comprising a bellcrank lever pivotally mounted on the rear of the panel and having a plurality of arms, one of which engages the cone clutch supporting pin, a solenoid connected to one of the other arms of said bellcrank lever, manual means'for disengaging the clutch comprising a pin reciprocably mounted in the housing having an operatthe front of the said bellcrank lever, spring means to retain said manual throwout pin in inoperative position.

5. In a device of the class described, a drive member, a driven member,- and a clutch for connecting them to each other, a circuit breaker means carried by said driven member to actuate said circuit breaker, means to disengage said clutch, and spring means to return said driven member to starting osition upon disengagement of said clutch, means for predetermining the time interval between the starting of the driven member and actuating the circuit breaker including a dial for controlling the starting position of said driven member, clamps to hold the dial in a predetermined position, stops carried by the dial and driven member adapted to engage each other upon return of the driven member.

6. In a device of the class described, a drive member, a driven member, and a clutch operably connecting the drive and driven member to each other, a circuit breaker, means carried by said driven member for actuating said circuit breaker, means to disengage said clutch, and spring means to return said driven member to starting position upon disengagement of said clutch, a control dial for determining the starting position of said driven member, means to hold the dial in a predetermined position, stops carried by the dial and driven member and adapted to engage each other upon return of the driven member to limit the return of the driven member, and means operable manually to disengage said clutch for releasing the driven member to permit the dial to be set to the predetermined position.

MAX L. JEFFREY. 

